Which term describes the scientific technique used to perform testing or analysis on an environmental sample?

• A. Technology
• B. Method
• C. Instrument
• D. Protocol

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is naming the way scientists perform testing or analysis on an environmental sample. The term that fits best is method, because it denotes the particular approach or technique used to carry out the analysis, including the procedures, steps, and strategies for measuring and interpreting results. Technology is broader, encompassing tools, systems, and capabilities rather than the specific testing approach. An instrument is a device used to collect or quantify data, not the overall technique itself. A protocol is a detailed, standardized set of steps for performing a test, which is close to a procedure within a method but doesn’t by itself name the technique. So the method is the most appropriate term for describing how testing or analysis is carried out.